Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts Fathers of the Church with Mike Aquilina

Episode  9 – A Brief Reflection on Prudence In this final episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss St. Joseph and the virtue of prudence An excerpt from St. Joseph and His World: The prudent way—the way of St. Joseph—begins with self-knowledge. People cannot see reality clearly as long as they have those planks in ... Read more

In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss St. Joseph and the role he had in Jesus' religious formation.  Also, Mike offers a deeper insight on the scene popularly known as "the finding in the Temple."

 Episode  7 – Joseph and His Work In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss St. Joseph and his family’s trade as a carpenter and the holiness found in “work.” An excerpt from St. Joseph and His World: He was a silent man. And one of his titles in modern devotion draws further ... Read more

In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss St. Joseph and the Holy Family's flight into Egypt.

Episode  5 – Joseph and His Angels In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss St. Joseph and his interactions with the Angels. An excerpt from St. Joseph and His World: The great difficulty in sketching the character of Joseph of Nazareth is that Scripture never shows him speaking. He never says yes or ... Read more

 Episode 4 – Marriage Amid the Madness In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Mary and Joseph’s marriage and his challenge with her pregnancy.  They also discuss Mary’s need to visit her cousin Elizabeth, commonly referred to as The Visitation. An excerpt from St. Joseph and His World: Commentators down the ages ... Read more

In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss in more detail the life and influence of Herod the Great. Then the conversation turns to St. Joseph.  We learn more about his family background.   Who was his father? What was it like to be a carpenter in those days?  How old was St. Joseph at the time of his marriage to the Blessed Virgin Mary?  What was the influence of the Essene community?

In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor explore the various religious and political figures prevalent in Israel at the time of St. Joseph.  Chief among those leaders is the infamous figure of King Herod the Great.

In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor begin this series on the life and times of St. Joseph with a discussion on his ancestry.

Episode 12 – Nestorius – “Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians“was In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Nestorius, an archbishop of Constantinople who proclaimed that Mary could not be the “Theotokos”.  Such statements brought about the Council of Ephesus and a declaration throughout the Christian Church that his ... Read more

Episode 11 – Julian the Apostate – “Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians“ In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Julian the Apostate, an emperor of Rome who was disillusioned by how his family who claimed to be Christians, yet acted counter to what they professed.  He ... Read more

Episode 10 – Arius – “Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians“ In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Arius and the threat of the Arian heresy.  Mike makes suggestions on what the Christian can do to stay true to the faith in times and recognize the Arian ... Read more

Episode 9 - Diocletian - "Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians" In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Diocletian and the threat of a "police state" to religious freedom.  Mike makes suggestions on what the Christian can do to stay true to the faith in times of religious persecution. The post VEC9 – Diocletian – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

There's nobody I enjoy spending Ash Wednesday with more than Mike Aquilina. Mike offers us rich insights on the practice of prayer, fasting and almsgiving from the perspective of the early church. He also helps us to see how we can concretely live out all three and further enrich our spiritual lives and help those around us to see Christ more fully in us and the Church. We like Mike! He's awesome! The post Mike Aquilina – Lent, Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, and the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

There's nobody I enjoy spending Ash Wednesday with more than Mike Aquilina. Mike offers us rich insights on the practice of prayer, fasting and almsgiving from the perspective of the early church. He also helps us to see how we can concretely live out all three and further enrich our spiritual lives and help those around us to see Christ more fully in us and the Church. We like Mike! He's awesome! The post Mike Aquilina – Lent, Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, and the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 8 – Celsus – “Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians“ In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Celsus and responding to his “Case against Christianity.” An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church: The man’s name was Aulus Cornelius Celsus, and he was one of those ... Read more The post VEC8 – Celsus – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Valentinus and Gnostic teaching.

Episode 6 – Marcion – “Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians“ In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Marcion and the dangers of money…to the extreme! An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church: Marcion was a rich businessman who thought he had figured out the real ... Read more The post VEC6 – Marcion – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 5 - Nero - "Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians" In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Nero and the hallmarks and dangers of an "antichrist." An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church: Pilate was a waffling dupe. Judas was a tortured soul who didn’t have the courage to repent. But perhaps no villain in Christian legend comes out as completely and utterly villainous as Nero. He isn’t just a sinner who made the wrong choice: in much of Christian legend, and even theology, he is literally the Antichrist. The post VEC5 – Nero – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 4 - Simon the Magician - "Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians" In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Simon the Magician and learning pride and hubris. An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church: IF THERE had been supermarket tabloids in Rome of the first century, Simon Magus, or Simon the Magician, would have been on the front pages every week. His story gives us zombies, levitation, a talking dog, a jewel heist, and a prophesying baby, just to name a few of the highlights. But it all begins with a true story in the Acts of the Apostles. The post VEC4 – Simon the Magician – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 3 - Pontius Pilate - "Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians" In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Pontius Pilate and learning from his weakness. An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church: Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. Countless millions of Christians recite that simple historical fact when they profess their faith. It reminds us that this is real history we’re dealing with. The death and Resurrection of Jesus are not just metaphors or allegories: they really happened at a particular moment in history. Pilate is our anchor to that historical moment. He is our grounding in historical fact. But he’s also one of the most fascinating characters in the Gospels. His doubt and dithering in the face of an unpredictable mob make him more than just a villain. They make him human, and we feel real sympathy for him. He’s doing a bad job, but in his position, it was nearly impossible to do a good job. The post VEC3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Caiaphas and the temptation of unholy compromises. An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church: CAIAPHAS IS mentioned everywhere in the Church Fathers, but almost as furniture—“ and Jesus was brought before Caiaphas.” If the early Christian writers are interested in anything about him, it’s that he could prophesy truly because of his office. Otherwise, they don’t seem to find much remarkable in him. He’s the banality of evil. A bureaucrat. Yet, Caiaphas, like many of the characters caught up in the Passion story, was in a complicated position—more complicated than we may realize when we hear the story in the Gospels. The post VEC2 – Caiaphas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 1 - Judas - "Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians" In this episode, Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss the "mystery of Judas." An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church: What happened to Judas? Was it simple greed that snapped him? That seems unlikely. Thirty pieces of silver was a good bit of money, but Judas was doing all right with his embezzling racket. The Gospels don’t tell us his motivation most likely because their writers just didn’t know. It was a mystery to them as it is to us. And a lot of the Christian legends that later grew up about Judas seem like popular attempts to psychoanalyze him. Judas was also present for the Last Supper, having a miserable time as Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him: “The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24). John tells us that the disciple whom Jesus loved—John himself—asked Jesus who the betrayer would be. “It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it,” Jesus responded, and then dipped the morsel and handed it to Judas. Yet the others still didn’t understand what Jesus meant when he said to Judas, “What you are going to do, do quickly” (John 13:26–27). Was he sending Judas out to buy more food? Or to make a donation to the poor from the money box? “So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out,” John says, adding the significant detail “and it was night.” Judas walked out of the Last Supper and into the very symbolic darkness (John 13:30). But he knew where to look for Jesus when he came with the police. Judas and the rest of the disciples had often been with Jesus in that pleasant park across the Kidron Valley, the garden of Gethsemane (see John 18:2; Mark 14:32). That was where Judas led the soldiers to arrest Jesus. The post VEC1 – Judas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Mike Aquilina shares with us the story of St. Agnes. A young girl who would help to break open the hearts of many so that grace could pour in. She was "a lamb for Christ". - A prayer to St. Agnes Let us gain courage for our own battle by honoring the martyrdom of the glorious virgin Agnes. St. Agnes, vessel of honor, flower of unfading fragrance,beloved of the choirs of Angels,you are an example to the worth of virtue and chastity. O you who wear a Martyr's palm and a virgin's wreath, pray for us that, though unworthy of a special crown, we may have our names written in the list of Saints. The post St. Agnes, a lamb for Christ with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Mike Aquilina shares with us the story of St. Agnes. A young girl who would help to break open the hearts of many so that grace could pour in. She was "a lamb for Christ". - A prayer to St. Agnes Let us gain courage for our own battle by honoring the martyrdom of the glorious virgin Agnes. St. Agnes, vessel of honor, flower of unfading fragrance,beloved of the choirs of Angels,you are an example to the worth of virtue and chastity. O you who wear a Martyr’s palm and a virgin’s wreath, pray for us that, though unworthy of a special crown, we may have our names written in the list of Saints. The post St. Agnes, a lamb for Christ with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Mike Aquilina, in conversation with Bruce and Kris McGregor, breaks open the life and teachings of St. Anthony of Desert (aka St. Anthony the hermit, St. Anthony Abbott or St. Anthony the GREAT!) Born c. 251 Herakleopolis Magna, Egypt Died 356 Mount Colzim, Egypt You can find the Life of St. Anthony  by St. Athanasius  ... Read more The post St. Anthony of the Desert, Father of the Church…patriarch of the monastic life with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Mike Aquilina, in conversation with Bruce and Kris McGregor, breaks open the life and teachings of St. Anthony of Desert (aka St. Anthony the hermit, St. Anthony Abbott or St. Anthony the GREAT!) Born c. 251 Herakleopolis Magna, Egypt Died 356 Mount Colzim, Egypt You can find the Life of St. Anthony  by St. Athanasius  ... Read more The post St. Anthony of the Desert, Father of the Church…patriarch of the monastic life with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 10 – Defending Human Life: The Early Church and Abortion Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the ... Read more The post ROF#10 – “Defending Human Life: The Early Church and Abortion” – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 10 – Defending Human Life: The Early Church and Abortion Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the ... Read more The post ROF#10 – “Defending Human Life: The Early Church and Abortion” – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 9 – Sexuality, Marriage, Contraception Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians into the ... Read more The post ROF#9 – Sexuality, Marriage, Contraception – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 9 – Sexuality, Marriage, Contraception Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians into the ... Read more The post ROF#9 – Sexuality, Marriage, Contraception – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 8 – The Papacy:  The Apostolic Throne Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians ... Read more The post ROF#8 – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 8 – The Papacy:  The Apostolic Throne Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians ... Read more The post ROF#8 – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 7 – The Clergy: Love’s Earthly Form Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians ... Read more The post ROF#7 – The Clergy – Love’s Earthly Form – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 7 – The Clergy: Love’s Earthly Form Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians ... Read more The post ROF#7 – The Clergy – Love’s Earthly Form – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 6 – Purgatory:  Love Stronger than Death Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians ... Read more The post ROF#6 – Purgatory:  Love Stronger than Death – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 6 – Purgatory:  Love Stronger than Death Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians ... Read more The post ROF#6 – Purgatory:  Love Stronger than Death – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 5 – Saints in Heaven - The Stones Cry Out The post ROF#5 – Saints in Heaven “The Stones Cry Out” – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 5 – Saints in Heaven - The Stones Cry Out The post ROF#5 – Saints in Heaven “The Stones Cry Out” – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 4 –  From the Scriptures to the Bible The post ROF#4 – From the Scriptures to the Bible – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 3 – Confession: the history of mercy The post ROF#3 – Confession: the history of mercy – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 2 – The Mass: the Universal Sign Roots of the Faith – From the Church Fathers to You with Mike Aquilina, makes clear that just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the ... Read more The post ROF#2 – The Mass: the Universal Sign – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.